On April 10, 2026, researchers at Örebro University Hospital announced they are mapping the pathways to Parkinson’s disease, with a focus on identifying early-life exposures that may increase risk later in life.
Led by Scott Montgomery, head of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the hospital and professor of clinical epidemiology at Örebro University, the study examines whether serious infections and other exposures before age 30 are linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s after age 50.
The research, which includes data from 17,348 individuals with Parkinson’s disease followed over time, builds on Montgomery’s earlier work. Findings show that infections in the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system before age 30 are associated with an increased risk of developing the disease after age 50.
Montgomery noted that the results suggest a particularly sensitive period before age 30, but found no similar link between head trauma in young people and Parkinson’s disease, indicating different biological pathways and periods of vulnerability for infections versus brain injury.
He added that the study marks the first time data from primary care has been included in this research, which he described as especially encouraging.
The project aims to identify exposure patterns before age 30 to determine who may be more likely to develop Parkinson’s after age 50, recognizing that various exposures can combine during periods when individuals are more susceptible to disease development.
Understanding how Parkinson’s develops over time is critical, as some contributing factors may appear years before diagnosis. This research could help clarify how early-life experiences influence long-term neurological health.
